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Robo-Pong upgrades its paddle for a ball-launching cannon

"It exists only to humiliate and vanquish anyone who challenges it." Yep, that's what I'm looking for when I pick up a paddle for a nice game of Ping Pong — to feel awful about myself.

The Robo-Pong 2040 will serve and return balls just like a human opponent, although it eschews using the traditional paddle for a gun that can fire balls out at 75 mph. The Robo-Pong can emulate a variety of movements, from fast chops to shallow spikes, and change up which direction it shoots them in. All the balls you hit back are collected in a net, scooped up and loaded. Its time doesn't come cheap, however — it's a premium partner at $700. Check the video above to see a feeble meatbag take on the Robo-Pong 2040.

Not robot-looking enough for you? Looks like there's more than just one 'bot playing this game. Click Continue to check out a video of TOPIO, which looks like something out of a giant mech cartoon.

The TOPIO is a robot by Tosy Robotics.

Robo-Pong, via BotJunkie
Tosy Robotics, via robots.net

 
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StrongHammer:
That's wild. Those crazy Vietnamese are building ping-pong playing robots. Sure, a likely story. But what is REALLY...More »


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By StrongHammer at 1:35 PM ON 06/12/08

That's wild. Those crazy Vietnamese are building ping-pong playing robots. Sure, a likely story. But what is REALLY for?


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